ADMINISTRATORS have closed all 187 Jessops stores, leaving 1,370 workers on the scrapheap.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said they had no choice but to shut every one of the company’s outlets, including Wrexham, Llandudno and Chester.

The administrators added further job losses are likely at the group’s head office in Leicester.

Jessops is the first high-profile retail casualty of 2013, after suffering from online competition and a boom in camera phones in recent years, hitting demand for digital cameras.

Edward Williams, Rob Hunt and Matthew Hammond of PwC were appointed joint administrators of The Jessop Group Limited on Wednesday.

Mr Hunt, partner at PwC, said: “We have reviewed the position of the business and held extensive discussions with suppliers around their support for ongoing trading.

“It is apparent we cannot continue to trade and as a result we have had to make the difficult decision to begin the closure of all 187 Jessops stores at the close of business today.

“Regrettably, this will result in around 1,370 job losses across the stores with further job losses likely, in due course, at the head office in Leicester.”

He added: “The stock will be collected over the coming days and returned to a central warehouse. It will be returned to suppliers if they are entitled to it. As a consequence of the closure, Jessops is no longer able to accept returned product from customers.

“This is an extremely sad day for Jessops and its employees. We are very grateful for the support we have received since our appointment and we will continue to ensure that employees are paid as they assist us during the closure.”

Jessops’ demise follows the loss of Comet, Clinton Cards and JJB Sports, among others, in 2012.